Harmony Center in Danbury breaks ground

DANBURY -- As old bricks fell on the site of the new Harmony Center on Friday, a foundation was laid for expanded programs to help children achieve their dreams.

Officials of Family and Children's Aid, a nonprofit organization that provides services to abused and neglected children, have been planning the center for more than four years. The agency helps about 5,000 families a year.
On Friday, federal, state and local officials celebrated the ground-breaking of the center, where a variety of expanded outpatient services will be provided to children and families throughout the area.
"This center will give us the capacity to provide ... services that we couldn't before due to a lack of space," said Dr.

Irvin Jennings
, executive and medical director of the organization. "The needs of children are ongoing and we have to keep moving forward."

Aishia Bello
, 16, who has lived in one of the six group homes the organization operates, said the new center will help even more children like herself succeed.
Bello and Jennings blew air horns Friday as a bulldozer took down a vacant building at 80 West St. to make room for the new center.
"I have a better perspective on life now and I have goals," said Bello. "I want to become a lawyer and a district attorney in New York City."
Kevin McNellis
, director of operations for the organization, said construction on the 15,000-square-foot building could be finished in the next 10 months.
The project, which is estimated to cost around $4.5 million, is being paid for with $1.5 million in state funding, a $263,000 federal grant, and money raised by the Family and Children's

Aid Foundation
.
"Our mission is simple: For every child a home," McNellis said.
U.S. Rep.
Chris Murphy
, D-5th District, who helped to secure the federal funding, was on hand for the ground-breaking Friday.
"I'm thrilled to be a partner in this project," he said. "This staff is one of the most committed in the state to helping vulnerable children."
State Rep.
Robert Godfrey
, who lobbied for state bonding money for the project, said it seemed like a long time since he first toured the organization's campus on West Street four years ago and learned of its needs.
"Family and Children's Aid serves the children and families who are in desperate need for these programs," he said. "May all those who use this wonderful center grow and prosper."